KEYS to the first new affordable homes in Mary Tavy for more than 20 years, were handed over to the new homeowners last Friday.

The ten-month development at Burradown, Warren Road, Mary Tavy, contains the 50th new home built or bought since West Devon Homes was formed three years ago.

West Devon Homes continued its successful working relationship with developers and contractors Midas Homes to produce a mixed housing development of 16 homes in total.

Midas in their own right developed ten homes on the site for sale on the open market, while they acted as contractor to West Devon Homes who developed six more two-bedroom properties.

All the houses built by West Devon Homes have been allocated to people with strong local connections to Mary Tavy.

In total with private funding from the Nationwide Building Society, West Devon Homes believes by its fifth anniversary in 2004 a total of 200 extra affordable homes for local people will have been acquired, built or in construction.

l Andrew Tanner and daughter Isobel receive the keys to their new home from the chairman of West Devon Homes Derrick Pinckard and the chair of Mary Tavy parish council Anita Prosser.